The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-08-18
STANFORD's ANSWER.
He Declines to Accede to the
Commissions Demands.
UNITED LABOR CONVENTION
Another Report of the Death OF
Stanley That Is Not at all
Believed In.
Stanford Answers.

SAN FRANCISCO, August 17.-There
was fled in the United States Circuit
Court here to-day, the answer OF SEN
ator Leland Stanford to the petition OF
thsPacife Railroad Commission to COM
pei said Stanford to answer questions
relating to the use of money for the
purpose of influencing legislation in
connection with the Central Pacific
Railroad. After reciting at length the
history of the Central Pacific Railroad,
Stanford says he has taken part in tran
sacting the business of the company for
over Is years and in point of value ag-
gregating upward of $500 900 900. As
the business took place, he was cogni-
zant of it, but owing to its multiplicity
and pressure of matters moreimportant
than mere details, heis now no longer
able to recall many of the matters with
which he was once personally familiar,
After receiving the circular from the
commission in May, this year, calling
for certain information, = he diligently
endeavonSd to comply with the request,
Answers containing all available infor-
| the commission. Since the arrival of
| the commission in San Francisco, he
has waited upon them, the principal Of
ficers and employees of the Central
Pacific company have waited on them.
and every person IN the employ of the
company whose presence was desired or
| who could furnish them information in
respect to the subjects of their
| investigation have promptly and
cheerfully done so. The pro-
visions of the law creating
| the Central Pacific Company
have been CONF lied with. The repeal of
| the act of Congress creating the COM
pany would not do away with the Cen
| trail Pacific Rrailroad Company. Its
existence does not depend on an act
of congress. 1t owes its existence to
the laws of the State of California, and
to those laws alone. However the
repeal of the act of Congress may affect
the bounties, it can in no wise affect
the existence of the company, Annual
examinations of the affairs of the COM
pany have been made by government
officials, and accounts between the
government and the company adjusted
accordingly. The present examination
by the Pacific Railway Commission
the Central Pacific Railroad Company,
but it has extended to searching in
vestigation of the affairs of all con-
solidated and allied companies con-
nected with that corporation. All their
| business relations have been exposed to
the public and prying curiosity of rival
business competitors. Stanford states
ia regard to that class of property with
which the government has no connec-
ton, that he declines to answer the
questions propounded. Questions have
| been asked and line of examination
pursued manifestly prompted by dis
affected and hostile parties. whose aim
was more the pursuit of personal
enmity of private character than the
interests of the public at large or the
ends of justice. To answer the Objec-
tionable questions necessarily gives
rise to the application that all persons
| whose names may be mentioned in
| the questions to which answers are
declined, are guilty of the acts OF the
commission which is implied in the
bare asking of the questions. To quote
| from the answer filed: In my testi-
mony given to the commissioners l
have said in substance and now repeat
that | have never corrupted nor at
ICIh pGcu W COIlupL any IuCulOOI VI Ih0
| legislature, or any member of Congress,
or any public official, nor have l
authorized any agent to do So" In re
gard to the vouchers referred to in the
present application, Stanford says, all
claims covered by those vouchers
have received not only the ap-
proval of the board of directors
OF the Central Pacific Railroad Com
pany, but likewise the appr0va'
of the stockholders Of that company.
All parties who could in anywise be
affected by the disbursements en-
satisfied Herewith. Therefore, the
them. 1t is impossible not from time
disbursements which every dictate of
being made public. Arrangements
not publicly known and the disclosure
of which could only result in defeating
the ends in view and exposing the
obloquy, would forbid making the
same public, either upon the archives
OF the company or before
that the commission has deemed it its
duty to PROFOUND questions involving
criminality on his part, but being asked
the questions he has felt constrained to
decline to answer them. Acting, not
merely on his own behalf, but in behalf
of those whose interests as stockholders
of the Central Pacific railroad are COM
\ mitted to his charge, he feels bound to
decline IN ansuar thorn uplesS tho